Journalism of Courage
Continuing the move to extend welfare schemes among the upper caste poor, the Nitish Kumar government has decided to give three decimal land (1,306 square feet) each to landless families among upper castes.
The scheme will be an extension of an existing scheme for scheduled Mahadalits, under which about 2.5 lakh families have been given three decimal land.
Revenue and Land Reforms Minister Madan Mohan Jha said: “The CM has given the go-ahead to the scheme. We have started the process of getting clearance from the law and finance department. We are trying to replicate the same model as for Mahadalits,” Jha told The Indian Express.
The department will start identifying landless upper castes, he added. “Ongoing modernisation and upgradation of land records will also help identify such families.”
The bid to woo these communities is being seen by many as the Grand Alliance government’s strategy to poach on a primarily BJP constituency.
Meanwhile, the revenue and land reforms department has been gearing up to avail of unused government land to benefit the landless upper caste. Jha said: “We have asked the Bhoodan committee to make land available for the government.”
Dy CM Tejashwi, 7 ministers get govt houses
Patna: Deputy CM Tejashwi Prasad Yadav has been allotted a bungalow, about 500 m from the residence of RJD chief Lalu Prasad. Seven other ministers were also allotted bungalows. . There was no word on Lalu’s elder son minister Tej Pratap Yadav seeking house allotment. ENS
